Tips for Working One-Man
 

I'm going into my second season as blue for a small four-team church league. Last season we had two umps, this season I've been asked to fly solo - long story. Any tips from those of you who have worked a lot of one-man games? I know I'll have to move a whole lot more than before to get the proper angle on the plays. Any other tips?

Recruit your wife to start umpiring!

Nah, she's pregnant. Wouldn't want a puddle on the infield from her water breaking. Although it would evaporate immediately in this AZ heat!

For rec league all i work is 1 man..
for the few slow pitch games which I've started working this year.. its one man, which i would hate to work 2 man, its boring enough already.

If its fast pitch, its tough, but I just suggest hustle for angles as best as possible.. kinda hurts the players IMO with the leaving early and other stuff thats hard to watch from behind the plate.. I hate one man in fp even though i work it alot, its just better to have another guy out there for the players sake.

But FP is exciting? Okay.

It can be .. at least ya get to strike em out! thats always fun. :D

Slow pitch is easy money though man, I dont knock you guys any more.. no gear.. shorts.. thats the life... same pay.. guys are much less whiney than mens FP players by about a factor of a million.

I like it. I apologize for all the times I teased you slow pitch umpires. I started this year and I'll be working much more of them. I almost feel guilty getting paid for it... but I'll have to learn to live with it.

Somebody ought to slap you uplong side the head. SP players whine more than the French press about Lance Armstrong. Also, in my area, SP is never the same pay, quite a bit less actually.

And I don't know a SP umprie that doesn't ring up a SP player. I usually have a dozen called 3rd strikes a year and I don't work that many games.

If you are bored working SP, my impression would be that you are not doing your job as an umpire.

I've only worked 3 sp games so I'm no expert mike, I'm waiting on that strike out. Having noticed whining yet! Admit it, its boring ball... its fun for the comraderie (sic) .. thats about it. I like it, the ball is just not that good. Many aspects of "the game" are not there. I do wish we had stealing though, that would add something to it.


I almost had one strike out though mike, even though only 3 games.. I bet I get one soon... unfortunately, it wasnt a strike out..

I forgot that a foul ball on Strike 2 is an out .. and didnt notice the fat straggly beer breath guy at the plate with a bat wasnt the same fat straggly beer breath guy before him.. so when he watched his first pitch go by .. I said strike 3 youre out..

Oops..

We all had a good laugh at that.. thats funny i dont care who ya are.

I've got very little softball experience. Just finished my first year of HS softball (part-time to help out), I've worked 4 or 5 men's FP (lots of crying in that league :) ) Lately I've been working Men's & Co-ed SP one night per week (solo).

Maybe I'm doing something wrong..... because most of the time I'm working hard to get into position because almost everyone hits the ball. I find that I'm running up the miles getting out from behind (or from the side of) the dish to get a better look at things...I'm rarely ever bored....am I doing something wrong?

Also, as I continue to grow older (and slower) I need to find a league like you work, you know, the one where the fat drunk players are...these in shape, fast footed players around here make me hustle too much.

All this fun and $18 per :55 game....does life get any better?

maybe youre too old.. hustling and running is easy for me ;)

Gimme a few years though and I'll probably think simply running out for a play at a base is work like you and Mike do :D

I'm faster than most players.. just not a big deal.

ESPECIALLY slow pitch, im not even wearing all that crap.

yep, i get 25 a game.

30 for mens FP.

50 for baseball 17U american legion.. but games take 2.8 years.

delete.. double post

I knew that you had the answer....but I think you missed the point of the question.... I don't think that you bother the hustle at all..... you're too good calling the plays from where you are...am I right?


Are you sure that you enjoy umpiring? Doesn't sound like it from here.

A few weeks ago I worked an Adult League BB game with a guy that didn't like umpiring very much, he did it for the money..... (now that's funny)!

Before the game started he said "I hate working these former wannabes, they all cry too much but I need the $70." I could tell that this would be a lively game. He only pi$$ed off 2 players enough to get them to eject themselves but man what a game.... I won't work with him again.....

Does this story sound familiar? It wasn't you was it?





Wait, don't get angry..... I'm just messing with you.....having a little fun...peace:D

I've did baseball for 22 years, softball for 19. Some HS, womens and JO FP and a bundle of SP. There is no doubt in my mind that the SP game has too many variables and action to be boring. The whining is there in many areas. Maybe your in one of the rare locations that it just doesn't happen and that is a good thing.But I'll bet it was a damn good strike one. Honestly, though, I don't know why you are doing SP. You obviously don't care for the game and my guess is that you think it is nothing more than one big keg game.

Oh, well, at lease someone is covering the games.

Wasnt me.. never worked adult bb. :cool:


Maybe they whine, I just havent seen it.. dunno. Havent worked a lot of games and seems more of a friendly league.

Now mens fp tournies, oh boy do they boo hoo..

Im working SP games to give it a try.. we'll see if I keep it up. I like to play SP... umpiring it may not be my cup of tea - dont know yet.

I dont see this majestic beauty of SP that you do though, as of yet.

I think you just dont want to admit its easy money compared to real umpiring.. ;)

Yup! 5 6 7 8 9 10

OK, go ahead. ;)

I think a lot of it depends on what level of slow-pitch you are working as well. For me, I think the most exciting is about the Class C and D level.

The classes above that are pretty much all power games and basically just sitting back and watching the guys hit bombs and whine about the zone. They are supposedly the better players around so you want to be on your game as well, but for me anyway, it's a much more boring game to umpire.

Below that and the players and pitching aren't very good which makes it a difficult game to umpire. You never know where they are going to throw the ball which makes if more difficult if you are working solo. It's a struggle to get any strikes called so you have a lot of hitters that stand there looking for a walk, which really irks me.

That C and D level, in this area anyway, seems to have the best balance for me. Decent pitching, not a bunch of power so there are more calls on the bases which get me into the game much more. They are generally experienced so you can do a bit of anticipation as to where the ball is going to go, which is a great help working solo. The pitchers are usually around the plate so there aren't many walks and you do get the occasional strike-out which is always fun.

The worst I ever had was a Women's Class F league. We are talking girls that have pretty much never thrown a ball before. One hour time-limits and I think I had only one game all year NOT called for the time-limit. But the scenery was very nice which made it a bit more bearable. :D

Here is what I see in the SP game.

The batter has more control over where the ball is hit.

The ball is put into play by almost every batter on the high-side percentage of the time.

Almost every time the ball is put into play, there is a multitude of possible plays, offensive and defensive.

The pitcher's job is to put it near the plate. The idea is to get the ball put into play to give your defense a chance to retire the player, not to strike out the batter.

Though the outfield is much larger with an additional defender, there are still plenty of gaps and lines to hit.

Defense must make some great plays due to the speed of the ball and the increased athleticism of the players.

I've worked SP games at 65', 70' and 80' diamonds and these apply to all. The perks as opposed to FP is the SP game is always moving, variety on the much increased offensive play, the umpire must always be alert for anything, hustle isn't an option.

There are some FP teams that have their players partake in the SP game to help hone their defensive skills in the field and see the ball at the plate. Yes, it is slower, but it forces the batter to follow the ball.

I can't figure out which is most interesting about slow pitch:
- watching home runs and uncaught fly balls
- endless illegal pitches
- batters who never take a strike
- pitchers who never pitch a ball
- runners who are never out on DMR
- offense players in the dugout who always think it hit the plate
- defense players who never think it hit the plate
- settling BOO without a lineup or shirt numbers
- running 3/4 of the way to 2nd to cover a throw closer to me than the fielder
- teams that are never all there at game time
- seven sets of league rules
- getting home at midnight
- might makes right attitudes
- intoxicated players
- bad field conditions

I'm sure I can think of some more exciting things later, but back to work.

Also true for "T" ball! :D

Maybe it is just me but what is DMR?

Obviously you have experienced a different level of SP than I have..... too bad for you.

So, speaking one-man SP, what's the best mechanic for a play at third if there are trailing runners? Run all the way up to get the best possible angle on the play at third, and possibly miss a play at another base? Or try to get a decent angle while still keeping the other runners in front of me and hope I see it right? Or should I beg and plead for a partner?

I think you try to get the best angle you can for the play at third. I would be inside the diamond, working toward third, getting the best angle I could while staying out of the way of a possible throw from third to first. I wouldn't get too close, a couple feet from the mound area should be good. If there is a play at another base, you just need to hustle and get the best position you can.

You aren't going to see everything one-man so I think anyway that you do need to prioritize the plays and your position accordingly. The best though is when the bases are loaded and the batter hits a short fly-ball down the left field line so you have to judge fair/foul. Catch is made, throw goes home and all runners tag and move up a base. Then the defense wants to appeal the runner leaving first base early.

Working one man can be a little diffucult (unless you make all calls from behind the plate) depending on the level of play. I will move towards the pitcher in most cases; from there you are in the best possible position to go towards the play. Of course on a fly ball down the lines you first have to determine fair or foul and then hustle towards the next play. Keep in mind you will be inside the diamond and ALWAYS KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL or you are going to get hit. As far as those of you who think all SP is is a bunch of old drunk guys hitting pop flys get on the field with the field with the Men at an ASA or USSSA-A or B tournament and then come back on and tell me how boring it is.

Yes, I know that skill level is a whole different world.

Well I take it back -- They are whiners lol!



1) I gotta work on not being lulled to sleep - I missed calling a IF and trying to explain that its still and IF even if not called; well they didnt buy it.

I know I wouldnt have missed it in a game where I get into it.. I just get laxidasical because of the game. Gotta beat myself up a little about missing that call so I dont do it again, gotta stay awake no matter how hard it is.. so my bad on that.

OK mike, guru of SP.. question for you..

Do you call illegal pitch in the air.. I just would say "ball too high" or whatever after the pitch... one guy was saying I gotta hold my arm out (like ddb) .. I wasnt sure and just told them I was just going to call a ball..

Do SP umpires hold out their arm or yell IP or what do they do? To be honest it takes me the whole pitch to think if I think its 12 feet..

I gotta set something up thats 12 feet high and have someone throw the ball .. so hard for me to tell.. 12 feet! lordie. But gotta get that "strike zone" :rolleyes: figured out if im gonna do this.

basically its a wild guess IMO.. but whats the mechanic for it recommended by the sp gurus.

Good God...this last post and most of this thread is driving me to tears..for illegal pitches,, ddb signal and say "illegal" loud enough for the batter and catcher to hear. Figure out as FAST as possible if its illegal and give them the signal.

SP is a harder game to work than FP...

There was a guy on these boards a couple of years ago, Ed was his name I believe. He mentioned that he created a 12' pole made out of PVC pipe segments that he kept in his trunk. He would stop by the field at times just to set it up and review his judgement of 12'.

We had some fun teasing Ed about standing in an empty field staring at his 12' pole. Someone suggested it would be more fun to have a tall, blonde Swede to stare at.

I personnally thought the pole was a great idea, but I never tried it.

Considering this post and previous demonstrations of disdain for the game, I believe you are probably a "green" and don't know if I would want you on the field for a FP/MP game, let alone one of slow pitch.

I'm done with this one.

Yes Im green :rolleyes:

aww come on dont be that way mike..

OK I take it back.. local mens league SP players have risen to the top of the athletic world and are honed atheletes, honed to a fine edge.

Oh wait! At the tourney today I spoke with some other SP umps.. believe it or not, youre not the only one... so go ahead and take your ball and go home.

Man, I step away from the computer for ONE day and look what I miss. That will teach me to spend time with my kids!